“We feel like we’ll get him back soon, and we can pick right back up,” Harbaugh said Friday. “I don’t think this is going to be a major bump in the road. It’s going to be a minor one.

“He’s chomping at the bit to get back out there. I anticipate that happening soon.”

The 49ers open their exhibition season Friday against the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park.

That figured to serve as Crabtree’s first action in an NFL exhibition game. But then he got hurt July 27 in the 49ers’ first practice of camp, spoiling what had been his first injury-free offseason.

“At this point, I’m not worried,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “He had such a good spring and summer. I feel good with what we got done this offseason.”

It’s a mystery how Crabtree feels.

The 49ers’ top draft pick in 2009 and last season’s leading receiver with 72 catches, Crabtree hasn’t spoken to the media since the 49ers lost in the NFC Championship game Jan. 22. He was scheduled to visit the media tent before the 49ers’ second practice of camp, but that appointment got scrubbed.

A year ago, Crabtree also avoided the media while recovering from a broken foot and spending camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He started the 49ers’ final 14 regular-season games and both playoff affairs.

In an attempt to boost their receiving depth and play-making options, the 49ers brought in a bevy of receivers this year, most notably Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and first-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins. Undrafted rookie Nathan Palmer has shown promise in his first camp, too.

“It’s a long camp. He’ll get back and get good work in,” Smith added of Crabtree.

The 49ers offense hasn’t looked good the past couple days, and Harbaugh went so far as to say the defense dominated “every which way.”

Those woes haven’t been Crabtree related as much as a testament to the 49ers’ stout defense.

Crabtree indeed looked impressive during the offseason, and he appeared to forge an encouraging bond with Moss.

That said, the 49ers have worked on red-zone drills the past couple days, and judging by their lack of success, it wouldn’t have hurt to have Crabtree in the mix.

Harbaugh said of the Smith-Crabtree connection: “Both of them had fantastic offseasons. Michael was lean, in shape, in tiptop shape, moving extremely well. I don’t anticipate any issue when he gets back.”